Our new interview series Icebreaker features artists talking about things—some strange, some amusing, some meaningful—that just might reveal their true selves. First up is Canadian pop experimentalist Jessy Lanza, whose new album Oh No is out May 13 via Hyperdub.
Pitchfork: What fictional character do you relate to most?
Jessy Lanza: Odie from “Garfield.” He doesn’t really do anything. He’s kind of aloof and super naïve. I wish I could be more like Odie. Maybe I’m jealous.
Pitchfork: What’s the most recent song you’ve heard that made you believe in the power of music?
JL: Oh, the new Rihanna song, “Work.” Work, work, work, work, work. We’ve played the shit out of that. It’s such a pick-me-up. For the past month, if me or anyone in my band was having a real shit day, we’d put that on before we’d play and we’re good to go. We’ve been listening to it six times a night: three times before we play, three times after.
Pitchfork: What are you most vain about?
JL: Maintaining my facial hair. Not having a mustache is a big thing for me. It’s a constant battle.
Pitchfork: What YouTube video have you watched the most?
JL: There’s one of this woman singing “And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going” during the talent section of a beauty competition that is… pretty special. Once you see it, you’ve just got to keep coming back. It changes every time.
Pitchfork: How would you describe yourself as a dancer?
JL: Awkward. Elaine Benes. I’ve had dance lessons, but it doesn’t help.
Pitchfork: Who would you want to play you in a movie about your life?
JL: That lady from Throw Momma From the Train. That’s how I feel inside.
Pitchfork: What do you think is the best aspect of music culture right now?
JL: It’s pretty amazing the speed at which people can go down super hard. But then, at the same time, people are so forgiving. It’s like anything can happen and anybody can come back up again. I don't know what the fuck you have to do to become evil in people’s minds.
Pitchfork: What do you think is the worst aspect of music culture right now?
JL: There’s this real glorification of maniacs or megalomaniacs. I don’t like that so much. It seems like the more awful they are, the more enormous they become. It’s like this Donald Trump effect. Kanye West is like that, too.
Pitchfork: What’s your life motto?
JL: “Have a good time all the time," but spoken in the voice of the keyboard player from Spinal Tap.
Pitchfork: Do you like gambling?
JL: I do not like gambling. I actually have only been in a casino one time in my life and I felt no urge to gamble. And any time you play poker with your friends and make it about money, people just turn into assholes.
Pitchfork: What’s the last TV show that you binged?
JL: “Real Humans,” the Swedish version. There’s a really shitty American version, but the Swedish one is amazing. It’s set in the very near future where people have artificial intelligence robots to help with day-to-day life—like nannies and janitors and workers—but they begin to develop autonomy. It’s kind of like Blade Runner set in a really cute Swedish show.
Pitchfork: If you could be any animal, which animal would you be?
JL: My cat Stew has a great fucking life, so I would be my cat.